Months of record-breaking tourist numbers have encouraged additional investment in the hotel industry on the Costa del Sol, with 27 companies looking to spend a total of €56 million to improve their establishments over the coming winter months.

The largest organic supermarket in Andalucia has opened on the outskirts of Marbella

THE largest organic supermarket in Andalucia has opened on the outskirts of Marbella.
Family-run Chipolino Natural in Centro Comercial Los Halcones, in Benahavis, on the Ronda road, is stocking everything from non biological washing powder to organic pet food.

Its 250 square metres are packed with vegetables, herbs, milk, fresh meat and fish.
“We aim to get Marbella locals eating well and there is a definite drift, albeit slow, to healthy organic food,” explained owner Rafael Vicuna, 58.
The Basque father-of-three launched the business after working for many years in the US and Mexico, as a constructor.

“I got interested in organic food when I discovered how much rubbish people ate in Mexico. It is the same here, yet in Andalucia, you can buy the best quality produce in the world, if you can just get hold of it,” he added. “Sadly too much of it gets sent abroad. We hope to change that.”

Vicuna, whose wife is Russian, hopes to champion small, local producers and soon set up a website to buy online.